Means and method for directing tobacco toward the wall of a pipe bowl to improve burning action

ABSTRACT

Normal tamping of tobacco in a pipe bowl pushes the tobacco vertically but not outwardly so that as the tobacco burns, an air passage forms along the bowl walls. The present invention provides a method of distributing the density of tobacco so that it is more dense along the wall than at the center and burning is improved. One tool, installed before the pipe is filled, is conical and as it is pulled out, it forces the tobacco outward. Another tool, installed after conventional filling, is in the form of a hollow screw. The latter is threaded into the bowl and also moves the tobacco radially outward.

United States Patent [191 Lebert [451 Nov. 11,1975

[76] Inventor: Herbert A. Lebert, 25 Windsor Drive, Hillsborough, I Calif. 94010 [22] Filed: June 28, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 484,142

12/1940 Coclho 131/246 10/1937 Leuser 131/247 X Primar E.raminer.loseph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Julian Caplan ABSTRACT Normal tamping of tobacco in a pipe bowl pushes the tobacco vertically but not outwardly so that as the tobacco burns, an air passage forms along the bowl walls. The present invention provides a method of distributing the density of tobacco so that it is more dense along the wall than at the center and burning is improved. One tool, installed before the pipe is filled, is conical and as it is pulled out, it forces the tobacco outward. Another tool, installed after conventional filling, is in the form of a hollow screw. The latter is threaded into the bowl and also moves the tobacco radially outward.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures [52] US. Cl. 131/172; 131/184 A; 131/247 [51] Int. Cl. A24F 47/00 [58] Field of Search 131/172, 177, 184 A, 246, 131/247 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 547,616 10/1895 Percy 131/177 793,470 6/1905 Schibler, Jr 131/184 A 1,001,242 8/1911 Berg 131/247 X 1,019,028 3/1912 Dodge 131/247 X la. [6Q

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 MEANS AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING TOBACCO TOWARD THE WALL OF A PIPE BOWL TO IMPROVE BURNING ACTION This invention relates to a new and improved means and method for directing tobacco toward the wall of a pipe bowl to improve burning action. Conventional tamping of tobacco in pipes compresses the tobacco downward toward the bottom of the bowl but does not cause the tobacco to move radially toward the conical wall of the bowl.As the tobacco is burned, a dense, airimpervious cake is formed in the center of the bowl and tobacco particles are pulled toward the center of the bowl as the cake forms. The movement of the tobacco particles away from the bowl wall causes an air passage to form between the cake and the bowl wall, this being the path of least resistance for indrawn air. Such an air passage is not conducive to good burning or to pleasurable smoking.

In accordance with present invention, instead of tamping or compressing the tobacco particles vertically, the particles are moved radially outwardly so that the tobacco is more dense adjacent the bowl wall than at the center. Hence as the cake forms due to the burning of the tobacco the density is more uniform throughout the bowl and the indrawn air passes through the entire cross section of the bowl rather than being localized. Thus, the principal purpose of the present invention is to improve burning and the pleasure of smoking by distributing the density of the tobacco toward the bowl walls.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide means for radial outward movement of the tobacco. One such means comprises a conical tool which is installed in the pipe bowl before the tobacco is added. As the tool is pulled out of the bowl, the fingers of the user hold the tobacco in place. The conical shape of the tool moves the tobacco particles out toward the wall. Of course, after the tool has been withdrawn, there is some movement back toward the center but the density distribution previously mentioned is achieved.

Another tool is a hollow helix which is threaded into the tobacco filled in the bowl and then unthreaded. The shape of the helix causes the outward radial movement of the tobacco heretofore explained.

Either of the foregoing means is inexpensive, easy to use and easy to maintain clean.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through the bowl of a tobacco pipe showing one of the tools positioned at the I FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the tool of FIGS. 4 and 5 partly broken away to reveal internal construction.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan of the structure of FIG. 6.

The pipe 11 illustrated in the accompanying drawings is intended to be conventional. The bowl 12 is formed with a downward tapered bore 13 which may be approximately inch in diameter at the top and approximately inch diameter at the bottom. The stem 14 is connected to the bottom of bowl 12 in a conventional manner. It will be understood that various other shapes and dimensions of pipe bowls may be used with the present invention. Tobacco 16 filled into the bowl 12 as it burns tends to form a cake at the central axis of the how] 12 and in conventional tamping of the tobacco 16 the tobacco is compacted vertically but in cross section the density is approximately uniform. Hence as the tobacco burns a cake forms at the center, and as this forms the tobacco is drawn away from the bore 13 toward the center creating an air passage at the bore 13 which is undesirable. The method of the present invention comprises causing the tobacco 16 to move outwardly radially so that it is more dense as shown at reference numeral 17 toward the bowl wall than it is toward the center. Hence as the tobacco burns after it has been subjected to the method of the present invention, the formation of the cake at the center causes the tobacco to move inward; but since it is more dense at the walls, the density in cross section is more homogeneous and air passages at the bowl wall are avoided.

Direct ng attention now to FIGS. 13, a tool 19 is employed which has a conical portion 21 terminating in a narrow land 22 at the bottom. The major diameter of the conical portion 21 and of land 22 is about 5/16 inch for a conventional pipe bowl. Extending up from the truncated top of conical portion 21 is a rod 23 of about l/ 16 inch diameter formed at its upper end with a finger hold 24 here shown to be a circle. It will be understood that different forms of finger holds 24 may be used. Also cone sizes may be varied for larger and smaller size bowls 12.

In the use of the tool 19 in FIG. 1, the tool is installed with the land 22 at the bottom of the bowl 12 prior to tobacco being deposited. After the tobacco has been deposited, the smoker puts his two fingers around the rod 13 over the top of the bowl and pulls the finger hold 24 upward. This causes the tobacco to be forced outwardly toward the bowl l3 and to become more dense at the bowl than at the center. The bowl contents are also slightly lifted above the bowl cavity bottom for a freer smoke path into the stem bore 14. As has heretofore been explained when the tobacco is burned the cake which tends to form along the central axis of bowl 12 causes some of the tobacco to move inwardly but this results in a more uniform distribution and avoids unduly open air passages.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 46, the tool 19a is formed of a strip of metal 1/16 inch in thickness and approximately 3/16 inch wide with a tapered, pointed end 36 beveled to move tobacco outwardly. The winding of the helix provides a space of 3/32 inch between turns. The outside diameter of the helix 31 is /2 inch for most pipes. The cross section 32 is l/l6 3/16 inch wide. A grip 33 is attached to the upper end of helix 31 and may be attached thereto either by forced fit or preferably by welding, brazing or the like. The outside of grip 33 may be formed with 3 knurls 34 so that the grip 33 may be twisted between the fingers.

In the use of the device, the tobacco is first filled into the bowl 12a and thereupon the tool 19a is threaded into the tobacco in the bowl by twisting in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top with the helix action pulling the unit 190 downwardly. The direction of rotation is, of course, dependent upon the direction of the helix but for the right-hand threads shown in FIG. 6 the clockwise twisting is preferred. After the tool has reached the bottom of the bowl, the direction of turning is reversed and the tool 19a withdrawn. Again, there is a compaction of the tobacco outwardly toward the walls of the bowl 120 producing the same result as in FIGS. l-3. In other respects the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4-6 resembles that of FIGS. I3 and the same reference numberals followed by the subscript a are used to designate corresponding parts.

If desired, before the helix 31 is unscrewed, the tobacco 16a in the bowl can be slightly lifted to provide a better air passage from bowl bottom to stem bore 140.

Helix diameter and helix strip size can, of course, be varied to accommodate various bowl and tobacco particle sizes.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of improving burning action of smoking pipes comprising inserting in the bottom of the bowl of the pipe a conical member, filling the bowl of a pipe with tobacco, moving the tobacco radially outward toward the bowl wall so that the tobacco is initially more dense around the bowl wall than at the central axis of the bowl by pulling said conical member upward from the bottom of the bowl while holding tobacco in the bowl with the fingers to prevent tobacco from falling out of the top of the bowl, and then burning the tobacco, thereby causing some of the tobacco to move back toward the central axis so that the density of the tobacco is nearly uniform throughout the cross-section of the bowl.

2. For use in a tobacco pipe bowl which has been filled with tobacco, said bowl having an outer wall, a tool for moving said tobacco radially outward toward said outer wall comprising first means shaped to be screwed into tobacco filled in said bowl to move tobacco radially outward as it is unscrewed from the bottom toward the top of said bowl and second means for the fingers to grip to move said first means, said first means comprising a hollow helix of narrow, thin strip metal, the distal end of said helix having a tapered, pointed end bevelled in a direction to move said tobacco outward as said helix is screwed into the bowl. 

1. A method of improving burning action of smoking pipes comprising inserting in the bottom of the bowl of the pipe a conical member, filling the bowl of a pipe with tobacco, moving the tobacco radially outward toward the bowl wall so that the tobacco is initially more dense around the bowl wall than at the central axis of the bowl by pulling said conical member upward from the bottom of the bowl while holding tobacco in the bowl with the fingers to prevent tobacco from falling out of the top of the bowl, and then burning the tobacco, thereby causing some of the tobacco to move back toward the central axis so that the density of the tobacco is nearly uniform throughout the crosssection of the bowl.
 2. For use in a tobacco pipe bowl which has been filled with tobacco, said bowl having an outer wall, a tool for moving said tobacco radially outward toward said outer wall comprising first means shaped to be screwed into tobacco filled in said bowl to move tobacco radially outward as it is unscrewed from the bottom toward the top of said bowl and second means for the fingers to grip to move said first means, said first means comprising a hollow helix of narrow, thin strip metal, the distal end of said helix having a tapered, pointed end bevelled in a direction to move said tobacco outward as said helix is screwed into the bowl. 